A pensioner who was caught speeding in a vintage sports car in a notorious police speed trap area said he was distracted by a strange vibration coming from his vehicle.

Richard James Smith, who at 81 is somewhat younger than his 1926 Frazer Nash sports car, admitted speeding at Hillberry on April 29.

For the prosecution, James Robinson said Smith was clocked by the police doing 70mph as he approached Hillberry in his open-topped car, at around 6.15pm.

Admitting the offence by post, Smith enclosed a statement in mitigation, asking not to have his licence taken away.

The defendant, who lives at Rogerscale, Cockermouth, Cumbria, told the court he lived in a remote area and at 81, he said it was important to him to protect his driving licence.

’During four days in the Isle of Man I observed speed limits but I was distracted by a vibration in my 1926 car and did not brake soon enough,’ his statement said.

Passing sentence, Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said: ’I do take account of his age and of his absence of previous convictions and I also take account of his early guilty plea.’

Mrs Hughes fined him £300 for speeding and she also ordered him to pay a contribution of £50 towards prosecution costs. His licence was endorsed with six penalty points.